REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2005 AT 5:30 P.M.

 

Meeting called to order by Council President Smith.

 

Present:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

 

Absent:  None.

 

 

            The meeting was opened with prayer by Dr. Raymon Leake of First Baptist Church followed by the Pledge to the Flag.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to confirm the agenda for this meeting with an amendment to: add as R-10 execution of Mississippi Propane Education and Research Fund funding Request Form.

 

 

            Mayor Smith stated he had one re-appointment – Edward Lynch to the Trustees of the Meridian Municipal Separate School District.

 

 

            President Smith called on Mayor Smith for his report.  He stated he did not have anything to report.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the minutes dated April 5, 2005.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilman Thomas duly seconded by Councilwoman Henson and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the following proclamation to be issued by the Mayor:

 

            May 1-8, 2005 – “Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust”

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13459       ORDER AUTHORIZING TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO WESLEY

                                    HOUSE CONCERNING PERSONNAL AND OPEARTION

                                    COSTS ALLOWABLE THROUGH VICTIM/WITNESS GRANT

                                    #3NW2222

 

and, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13460       ORDER DECLARING EQUIPMENT SURPLUS AND NO

                                    LONGER NEEDED BY THE CITY OF MERIDIAN AND

                                    AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF SAID SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

 

and, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13461       ORDER AUTHORIZING INSTALLATION OF FOUR (4)

                                    STREET LIGHTS ON HAWKINS CROSSING ROAD BY

                                    EAST MISSISSIPPI ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

 

and, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13462       ORDER CONFIRMING THE RE-APPOINTMENT BY THE

                                    MAYOR OF EDWARD LYNCH TO THE TRUSTEES OF

                                    MERIDIAN MUNICIPAL SEPARATE SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

and, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13463       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF CHANGE

                                    ORDER NO. 1 AND FINAL BETWEEN GILCO CONTRACTING

                                    COMPANY, INC. AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN (NAS

                                    FORCEMAIN, PUMP STATIONS & INFLUENT BOX)

 

and, Councilwoman Henson seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Ordinance:

 

ORDIN. #4268         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE

                                    NO. 3966 SO AS TO RECLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE

                                    CITY OF MERIDIAN FROM DISTRICT R-1B TO DISTRICT B-3

                                    (VICINITY OF HIGHWAY 19 NORTH AND NORTH HILLS

                                    STREET) INCLUDING AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING

                                    MAP OF THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Ordinance:

 

ORDIN. #4269         ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY’S ZONING ORDINANCE

                                    NO. 3966 SO AS TO CLASSIFY CERTAIN LANDS IN THE CITY

                                    OF MERIDIAN TO R-1A SINGLE-FAMILY DISTRICT INCLUDING

                                    AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF

                                    MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Ordinance was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Henson offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13464       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT

                                    BETWEEN SOUTHERN UBAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATES,

                                    NORTHPORT, ALABAMA AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

                                    (URBAN FORESTRY WORKSHOP INSTRUCTOR)

 

and, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13465       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF LEASE

                                    AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAGNOLIA STEEL COMPANY,

                                    INC. AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Discussion was held regarding the agreement for management of the downtown parking garage.  Wallace Heggie and Maureen Lofton appeared regarding this.  The McLaurin Parking Company has the experience in running parking facilities.  They will be totally in charge of all aspects of the parking garage from marketing, operating and maintaining the garage.   Mrs. Lofton requested the council hold a work session so they can discuss parking fees.  Councilman Thomas offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13466       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT

                                    FOR MANAGEMENT OF PARKING FACILITIES BETWEEN

                                    MCLAURIN PARKING COMPANY, RALEIGH, NORTH

                                    CAROLINA AND THE CITY OF MERIDIAN

 

and, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13467       ORDER ACCEPTING THE BID OF SQUEEKY KLEEN, INC.

                                    JACKSON, MS, FOR PAINTING OF THE TWO (2) FRESHWATER

                                    TREATMENT PLANTS (INTERIOR & EXTERIOR) IN THE AMOUNT

                                    OF $15,000.00

 

and, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Councilman Palmer offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Resolution:

 

RESO. #5246                        RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF MAIN

                                    STREET FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM

                                    GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION

 

and, Councilwoman Perry seconded the motion, whereupon said Resolution was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            Motion was made by Councilwoman Henson duly seconded by Councilman Palmer and unanimously passed by the Council to approve the claims docket dated April 14, 2005 in the amount of $2,573,644.22.

 

 

            Councilwoman Perry offered and moved the adoption and passage of the following Order:

 

ORDER #13468       ORDER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND SUBMISSION

                                    OF MISSISSIPPI PROPANE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

                                    FUND FUNDING REQUEST TO THE STATE LIQUEFIED

                                    COMPRESSED GAS BOARD

 

and, Councilman Palmer seconded the motion, whereupon said Order was discussed, passed and adopted by the Council by a vote as follows:

 

Yea:  Thomas, Perry, Henson, Palmer, Smith.

Nay:  None.

 

 

            President Smith called for citizen comments.  Roy Hurst appeared and discussed the announcement made by EMBDC of their support of the Hawkins Crossing interchange site. 

 

 

            President Smith called for council comments.  Councilman Palmer stated a forum between the candidates for Ward 4 councilman will be held Monday at WMOX.  He attended a volunteer reception Saturday night which was organized by Friendship Baptist Church.  Ward 4 will have two dumpsters on April 30th for the hazardous household waste amnesty day.  Councilwoman Henson stated that the Riley family has been and continues to be generous contributors to the city.  Councilwoman Perry stated that on Friday morning at Union Station several people will be honored for having done something special to keep neighborhoods clean.  She said Ward 2 would have a dumpster at the Velma Young Center on April 30th.  Councilman Thomas stated he hoped the city would get to the point where people will put their garbage where it should be and the city not have to have special occasions for picking up trash.  He said the school system is considering restructuring Meridian High School.  He asked everyone to contact those involved if they are interested in this matter.  There is still time to register to vote.  You have to be registered 30 days prior to the general election in order to vote in it.  Several churches will be sponsoring an April 29th telecast featuring John Maxwell.  CAO Ken Storms stated that the city has two crews that go around picking up trash on the side of the roads.  If people will not throw out trash and there is no need for these crews then the city could save money and put this money where it is needed.  Public Works Director Monty Jackson stated that APAC is still having trouble getting all their supplies for all of their jobs.  He will be meeting with them Wednesday to discuss problems with the paving project.  He reminded everyone about the household hazardous waste amnesty day on April 30th.  Council President Smith stated that a dumpster will be at Wechsler on April 30th.  He thanked Waste Management for donating the use of these dumpsters for the city.

 

 

 

            There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, the meeting was adjourned.  Sine die.

 

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                                        Pam McInnis

Clerk of Council